Issue 44: Today’s Brew: Closing the Year with Gratitude—and Carrying Empathy Forward
☕ Brewed for Leaders Who Care
Espresso & Empathy — Issue 44
By: Anita Martin & Shannon Foster
Martin & Foster Consulting
December 31, 2025
As the year comes to a close, we want to pause—not to plan, fix, or forecast—but to reflect.
This year has brought growth, challenge, learning, and change. For many leaders and organizations, it required resilience, adaptability, and more emotional energy than expected. And yet, through it all, one thing remained constant: the importance of how we treat one another.
At Martin and Foster Consulting, this year reaffirmed a belief we hold deeply—leadership is human work. And empathy is not optional.
A Year of Conversations That Matter
Over the past year, Espresso & Empathy has explored what it really means to lead with intention:
Listening when emotions run high
Holding empathy with boundaries
Navigating difficult conversations
Building trust, psychological safety, and connection
Choosing clarity, integrity, and compassion—especially when it’s hard
Each issue reflected a simple truth: people remember how leaders show up far more than what leaders say.
We’re grateful to every leader, HR professional, and reader who leaned into these conversations. Your willingness to reflect, question, and grow is what makes this community meaningful.
Gratitude for the Work—and the People—Behind It
As we close this chapter, we want to say thank you.
Thank you for:
Choosing empathy when it would have been easier to disengage
Having the conversations others avoid
Holding space for people navigating uncertainty
Leading with integrity, even when the path wasn’t clear
Leadership isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. And showing up consistently—with care—matters more than ever.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we step into a new year, our hope is simple:
That empathy continues to guide decisions.
That trust remains the foundation of leadership.
That clarity replaces confusion.
That courage shows up alongside compassion.
May 2026 be a year where leaders listen deeply, act thoughtfully, and remember that strong cultures are built one human interaction at a time.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for being part of Espresso & Empathy. Thank you for engaging in work that values people—not just outcomes.
We look forward to continuing these conversations in the year ahead.
Wishing you a new year filled with empathy, purpose, and meaningful connection.